High Groundwater Potential Zones Research Articles

Groundwater Potential Zone Mapping with an Integrated Approach of AHP and GIS Techniques for Koraiyar Basin, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

The overexploitation of groundwater resources and the obvious effects of climate change are putting the world's water supplies under tremendous strain. Evaluating groundwater potential and aquifer productivity is more critical than ever before due to the growing need for drinkable water for people, farms, and factories. Due to its speed and ability to give first-hand knowledge on the resource for future developments, GIS-based studies have lately become quite popular in groundwater research. The purpose of this research is, thus, to identify the groundwater potential. The present investigation made use of a GIS in tandem with the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) method. Lithospheric, geomorphological, land use/cover, lineament density, drainage density, rainfall, soil, and slope were the eight thematic layers that were produced and researched in order to define the groundwater potential zone. Each class in thematic maps is given a weight based on its attributes and water potential capacity, as estimated by the AHP technique. As a result, the groundwater potential zone map was categorized into five levels: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. A medium groundwater potential zone spanning 180.28 km2 of the river basin was determined by the research. The low groundwater potential zone covers 140.44 km2 and the high groundwater potential zone 117.39 km2. Within the basin, there are 127.57 km2 of territory classified as having very low potential and 97.49 km2 as having very high potential.

Evaluation of Groundwater Potential Zones Using GIS‐Based Machine Learning Ensemble Models in the Gidabo Watershed, Ethiopia

AbstractThe main objective of this study is to map and evaluate groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) using advanced ensemble machine learning (ML) models, notably Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). GWPZs are identified by considering essential factors such as geology, drainage density, slope, land use/land cover (LULC), rainfall, soil, and lineament density. This is combined with datasets used for training and validating the RF and SVM models, which consisted of 75 potential sites (boreholes and springs), 22 non‐potential sites (bare lands and settlement areas), and 20 potential sites (water bodies). Each dataset is randomly partitioned into two sets: training (70%) and validation (30%). The model's performance is evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC‐ROC). The AUC of the RF model is 0.91, compared to 0.88 for the SVM model. Both models classified GWPZs effectively, but the RF model performed slightly better. The classified GWPZ map shows that high GWPZs are typically located within water bodies, natural springs, low‐lying regions, and forested areas. In contrast, low GWPZs are primarily found in shrubland and grassland areas. This study is vital for decision‐makers as it promotes sustainable groundwater use and ensures water security in the studied area.

Assessment of shift in GWPZs in Kashmir Valley of Northwestern Himalayas

Groundwater is a critical resource for the Kashmir Valley, which is increasingly pressured by urbanization and climate change. This study aims to delineate Groundwater Potential Zones (GWPZs) in the Kashmir Valley using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The research integrates eight thematic layers, including geology, geomorphology, slope, drainage density, land use/land cover (LULC), lineament density, rainfall, and topographic wetness index (TWI), to assess GWPZs for 1995, 2010, and 2020. Weights for each layer were assigned based on their influence on groundwater dynamics. The generated GWPZs were classified into five classes: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. Over 25 years, significant changes in GWPZs were observed: very low potential zones decreased by 45.17%, low potential zones by 26.17%, and very high potential zones by 72.95%. Conversely, moderate potential zones increased by 50.87%, and high potential zones saw a slight increase of 9.00%. Results indicated that high and very high GWPZs are predominantly located in the valley's alluvial plains, primarily covered by agricultural and partially horticultural land. Validation of the generated GWPZs using bore well locations, discharge data, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated high accuracy, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values of 0.915, 0.898, and 0.890 for the respective years. These findings underscore the adverse impact of urbanization on groundwater potential zonation and emphasize the need for sustainable water management practices. This study provides valuable insights into the long-term shifts in groundwater potential in response to urban expansion and climate change. It highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptive management to safeguard groundwater resources.

Geographical Information System for Groundwater Potential Zoning in a Peninsular Region of Bihar

Background: Exponential growth in population and over-exploitation has created groundwater stress situation in several regions globally. The peninsular area spread in the Bhagalpur and Khagaria districts of Bihar (India) is rich in groundwater, but decrease in groundwater level has been observed in the last decade. Methods: In this study, groundwater potential zones have been delineated using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) based AHP. The occurrence of groundwater in the study area is mainly affected by following factors- geomorphology, lithology, lineaments, drainage, soil, annual rainfall, slope, land use land cover and fluctuations in groundwater level. Above factors were considered as themes and were prioritized over each-other using the Analytic Hierarchy Process and merged in a GIS environment to delineate the groundwater potential zones. Result: Four different zones of groundwater potential- low, moderate, high and very high have been observed in the study area. The moderate and high groundwater potential zones cover 44% and 55%, respectively. The delineated potential zones have also been validated using the groundwater levels of the pre- and post-monsoon seasons, which match well. The areas at higher elevations were in the moderate potential zones.

Groundwater potential mapping in arid and semi-arid regions of kurdistan region of Iraq: A geoinformatics-based machine learning approach

Groundwater (GW) is a crucial and increasingly scarce natural resource, that is affected by climate change and mismanagement. To manage GW resources effectively, it is crucial to accurately identify GW potential zones (GWPZs) using modern techniques. This study aimed to employ and assess geoinformatics-based machine learning (ML) models to delineate GWPZs in the Akre district, Kurdistan region of Iraq. Six nonparametric ML models were used: a support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbours (KNN), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), gradient boost DT (GBDT), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). These models were trained on diverse GWPZ-favourable influencing factors, encompassing topographic, hydrological, geological, and environmental aspects. The findings of this study revealed that the XGBoost model outperformed the other nonparametric models in terms of best-fit performance and accuracy in generating a GW potential map (GWPM), achieving a R2 of 0.88, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 11.348, and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 6.623. Notably, over half of the study area (53%) was categorised as having high or very high GWPZs, primarily in the low-lying Rovia Plain. The study identified rainfall, elevation, lineament density (LD), drainage density (Dd), topographic wetness index (TWI), and slope as the most significant factors influencing GWPZ modelling. This study provides a comprehensive framework for GW resource management, ecological conservation, and urban development planning. These insights are crucial for stakeholders, policymakers, and local authorities in strategic resource planning and environmental stewardship.

GIS-Based Analytical Hierarchy Process for Identifying Groundwater Potential Zones in Punjab, Pakistan

The quality and level of groundwater tables have rapidly declined because of intensive pumping in Punjab (Pakistan). For sustainable groundwater supplies, there is a need for better management practices. So, the identification of potential groundwater recharge zones is crucial for developing effective management systems. The current research is based on integrating seven contributing factors, including geology, soil map, land cover/land use, lineament density, drainage density, slope, and rainfall to categorize the area into various groundwater recharge potential zones using remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), and analytical hierarchical process (AHP) for Punjab, Pakistan. The weights (for various thematic layers) and rating values (for sub-classes) in the overlay analysis were assigned for thematic layers and then modified and normalized using the AHP. The result indicates that about 17.88% of the area falls under the category of very high groundwater potential zones (GWPZs). It was found that only 12.27% of the area falls under the category of very low GWPZs. The results showed that spatial technologies like remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS), when combined with AHP technique, provide a robust platform for studying GWPZs. This will help the public and government sectors to understand the potential zone for sustainable groundwater management.

Integrated remote sensing and geographic information system overlay analysis for groundwater potential evaluation using AHP and fuzzy AHP: Southern sections of the western Afar rift margin and associated rift floor

A persistent drought commonly affects the southern sections of the western Afar rift margin and the associated rift floor, leaving the populace concerned about their access to food. A comprehensive assessment and usage of the local groundwater resource is therefore essential to overcoming the ongoing drought and meeting the area's increasing demand for sustainable water. With the aid of RS, GIS, AHP, and Fuzzy AHP methods, this study aims to assess the area's groundwater potential. Lineament density, Geology,Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Recharge, Slope, Land Use and Land Cover, Soil, and Drainage Density were created using GIS and RS techniques and are the thematic layers taken into consideration for this purpose. The weight of these themes for their relative significance to groundwater occurrence was determined using AHP and Fuzzy AHP (FAHP). Lineament density is the primary factor influencing the presence of groundwater, followed by geology, TWI, and recharge. The Very low (221.48 km2), Low (9084.46 km2), Moderate (8281.96 km2), High (1441.65 km2), and Very High (102.45 km2) groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) were delineated using the GIS-overlay analysis technique. The validation of the groundwater potential zone map was completed using the well discharge, transmissivity, and specific capacity, and the scatter plot demonstrated a strong connection with R2 values of 0.81, 0.79, and 0.80, respectively. The sensitivity index (SI) shows that lineament density and geology, which have SI values of 2.08% and 1.74%, respectively, have the greatest influence on the distributions of groundwater potentiality in the catchment, while drainage density has the least influence, with a SI value of −0.89%. By ensuring sustainable management and development, the study's findings will help with decision-making for the long-term supply of groundwater. Additionally, the approach utilized in the study can be applied to other comparable arid to semiarid regions.

Application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Method for Groundwater Potential Zoning in the Kalianda Area, South Lampung Regency

Management related to groundwater resources is needed, especially in areas experiencing rapid regional development, for example in Kalianda, South Lampung Regency. The initial step in management is identifying groundwater potential, using a geographic information system. This research aims to map groundwater potential zones using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method in the Kalianda area. The methods used are geological mapping, AHP processing via GIS, and comparative analysis with aquifer productivity maps and the numbers of well distribution in the research area. From geological mapping, lithology was obtained in the form of Alluvium Unit, Mount Rajabasa Laharic Deposit Unit, Mount Rajabasa Andesite Lava Unit 1, Mount Rajabasa Andesite Lava Unit 2, Mount Rajabasa Andesite Lava Unit 3, Mount Pandan Pyroclastic Breccia Unit 1, and Mount Pandan Pyroclastic Breccia Unit 2. The results of the groundwater potential zone analysis divide the research area into 4 zones, namely the low potential zone covering 42.34%, medium 21.17%, quite high 15.45%, and very high 21.03% in the research area. The low and medium potential zones are the zones with the largest constituents spread across the southeast and south, and the moderately high and very high groundwater potential zones spread across the north and along the coast. In addition, the zoning results are directly proportional to the number of wells in each zone.

Future groundwater potential mapping using machine learning algorithms and climate change scenarios in Bangladesh

The aim of the study was to estimate future groundwater potential zones based on machine learning algorithms and climate change scenarios. Fourteen parameters (i.e., curvature, drainage density, slope, roughness, rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, lineament density, land use and land cover, general soil types, geology, geomorphology, topographic position index (TPI), topographic wetness index (TWI)) were used in developing machine learning algorithms. Three machine learning algorithms (i.e., artificial neural network (ANN), logistic model tree (LMT), and logistic regression (LR)) were applied to identify groundwater potential zones. The best-fit model was selected based on the ROC curve. Representative concentration pathways (RCP) of 2.5, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5 climate scenarios of precipitation were used for modeling future climate change. Finally, future groundwater potential zones were identified for 2025, 2030, 2035, and 2040 based on the best machine learning model and future RCP models. According to findings, ANN shows better accuracy than the other two models (AUC: 0.875). The ANN model predicted that 23.10 percent of the land was in very high groundwater potential zones, whereas 33.50 percent was in extremely high groundwater potential zones. The study forecasts precipitation values under different climate change scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6, and RCP8.5) for 2025, 2030, 2035, and 2040 using an ANN model and shows spatial distribution maps for each scenario. Finally, sixteen scenarios were generated for future groundwater potential zones. Government officials may utilize the study’s results to inform evidence-based choices on water management and planning at the national level.

Estimating groundwater resources in an equatorial forested basin using geographic information system and remote sensing techniques (case of Nyong, South Cameroon)

ABSTRACT This article aims to produce a groundwater potential zone (GWPZ) map of the Nyong basin using an integrated analytical hierarchy process driven in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. For this, seven parameters (rainfall, geology, slopes, drainage density, land use and land cover, lineament density, and soil) known to influence the availability of groundwater were considered. The results obtained show that the Eastern part of the basin holds the largest quantities of groundwater. The produced map shows that this region includes high and very high GWPZs (yield > 6 l/s). It is essentially characterized by abundant rainfall (on average 135–136 and 131–134 mm), low slopes, significant drainage and lineament densities, and significant forest cover. On the other hand, the opposite region (west), which includes the low and very low GWPZs, is characterized by less abundant precipitation (on average 121–125 and 125–128 mm), significant slopes, lower drainage and lineament densities, and greater impervious areas. With a success rate of 80%, confidence deserves to be placed in the GWPZs map produced. It can be considered in water supply projects in this basin. Such work has never been done in this basin before.

Groundwater potential zone mapping of middle Andaman using multi-criteria decision-making and support vector machine

Groundwater is a vital resource crucial to human survival worldwide and plays a significant role in addressing climate change. The multi-criteria decision method and support vector machine technique were used to demarcate the groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) of Middle Andaman. A total of 11 factors including geology, geomorphology, LULC map, lineament density, distance from Active Fault, groundwater level, distance from the sea, slope, drainage density, distance from major earthquakes, and distance from epicenter hotspots were used to calculate GWPZ. Spatially distributed maps/thematic layers of all of the above factors were generated using remotely sensed data as well as ground data. Each factor was assigned weights based on preceding global and regional research and the influence of each layer on groundwater. Finally, all thematic layers were used for multi-criteria decision analysis to create a map depicting the GWPZ of Middle Andaman. A support vector machine (SVM) tool was used to demarcate the potential zone based on the signature obtained from overlay analysis. The resulting map was divided into four categories: very high, high, low, and very low groundwater potential zones. SVM classification result showed that most of Middle Andaman's areas come under the low to very low GWPZ (63.4%), followed by high GWPZ (27%), and 10.6% of very high GWPZ. SVM classification resulted in overall accuracy, kappa coefficient, and the area in the ROC curve of 91.66%, 0.87, and 0.64 respectively. The analysis revealed a correlation between each factor and the Multi-Criteria Decision Method (MCDM) and Support Vector Machine (SVM), indicating that the majority of geological and geomorphological features are linked to lower groundwater potential. Further, the result was compared with groundwater fluctuation data of the middle Andaman. Finally, this study provides an expedient approach to delineating the GWPZ for practical management and use of the area's groundwater resources to maintain the island's sustainability.

PROTECTIVE CAPACITY ASSESSMENT OF A SHALLOW AQUIFERAT THE EASTERN PART OF ADO-EKITI, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) survey has been undertaken at the eastern part of Ado-Ekiti, southwestern Nigeria to assessthe aquifer protective capacity of the overburden units of the area. The Schlumberger electrode array was adopted with a maximumcurrent electrode spread (AB) of 300 m.Thirty-six(36) VES points wasoccupied and processed through a partial curve matching technique and 1-D forward modelingcomputer-assistedsoftware.The interpretation revealed H, A, KH and HA-type curves and threemajor geoelectric layers overlying the resistive basement. The groundwater potential and overburden protective capacity maps were prepared. The groundwater in the area was categorized into high, medium and low groundwater potential zones. About 80% of thestudy area falls within the moderate/low groundwater potential zone while the remaining 20% constituted the high groundwater potential zone (Agric Olope area). Hence, thegroundwater potential rating of other areas is considered to be low. The values of longitudinal conductance (ranging from 0.01 to 2.01 mhos) of the area enabled the overburden units to be rated into good, moderate and weakprotective capacity. About 75% of the area falls within the good/moderate rating while 25% constitutes the weak/poorprotective capacity rating (Agric Olope area), suggesting that the groundwater around Agric Olope isvulnerable to contamination.

Delineation of Groundwater Potential Zones for Sustainable Development and Planning using AHP and GIS Techniques in the Coal Mining Province of Mahan River Catchment Area

The present research aims to address the drinking water crisis in the Mahan River catchment area resulting from the disruption of groundwater availability due to extensive coal mining. The study uses GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to map the groundwater potential of the area by analysing several factors that affect groundwater availability, including rainfall, water depth, geomorphology, geology, soil, land-cover/land-use, and topographic characteristics derived from DEM. The groundwater potential map created using the MCDA technique classified the area into low, moderate, and high groundwater potential zones. The map was validated and verified using water table depth and electrical conductivity values available in the region, indicating that it can be used to identify groundwater recharging sites. The study’s results show that about 30% of the area has high groundwater potential, and more than 45% of the area has moderate groundwater potential. The information derived from the study can be used for sustainable management and proper planning of groundwater resources in the Mahan River catchment area. Overall, the study presents a useful approach to address the groundwater depletion problem resulting from coal mining activities in the Mahan River catchment area.

Mapping of Groundwater Potential Zones in the Kuzhithuraiyar Sub Basin of Kodayar River, Kanniyakumari District, Tamilnadu: Using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and GIS


 
 
 Groundwater plays a very important role for all living beings. It is decisive to have a scientific understanding of groundwater management since, with careful use and replenishment, groundwater may help solve issues. The distribution of groundwater tables, slope, land-form, drainage pattern, lithology, topography, geological structure, fracturing density, opening and connectivity of fractures, secondary porosity, and landuse landcover all affect the occurrence and efficiency of groundwater in an aquifer system. An essential tool for assessing, tracking and protecting groundwater resources is the integration of geospatial techniques such as Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System for the identification of groundwater potential zones. This study aims to find the groundwater potential zones using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and managing the resources by creating different thematic layers such as rainfall, geology, geomorphology, drainage density, soil, slope, lineament and landuse landcover (LULC) of the Kuzhithuraiyar sub basin of the Kodayar river in Tamilnadu using the application of geospatial technologies. The thematic maps for all the thematic layers have been prepared using tools such as Interpolation, contour lines, Classification in ArcGIS 10.8. Theme weight and class rank were assigned to different thematic layers in weighed overlay analysis. The results were validated through field work and groundwater potential map was created. The groundwater potential zonation mapping was done by the overlay analysis in ArcGIS 10.8 software. The obtained map was classified into four categories namely very high groundwater potential zone, high groundwater potential zone, medium groundwater potential zone and low groundwater potential zone. The North Eastern part of the basin is considered as low groundwater potential zone while the Southern portion has high groundwater potentiality. The low groundwater potential zone covers an area of 10.58 sq.km and high groundwater potential zone covers an area of about 388.37sq.km.This study will be helpful for useful groundwater management for different tenacities.
 
 

Mapping groundwater potential zone using groundwater potentiality index in Sulamu, Central Fatuleu and West Fatuleu, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

Water scarcity often occurs during the dry season in Kupang Regency, which is a semi-arid area. The drought limits surface water availability during the dry season, thus making groundwater one of the reliable solutions for fulfilling the need for water from springs and wells. Therefore, mapping the potential of groundwater in the research area becomes the aim of this study, which has never been conducted before. The method used in this research is the Groundwater Potentiality Index, which uses five parameters to identify groundwater potential areas: fracture, lithology, topography, drainage, and rainfall. Field observation and secondary data collection were conducted to provide those parameters. The results are groundwater potential index classified into five groundwater potential zones, resulting in very low (17.07% and 20.39% of total area), low (51.16% and 48.94% of total area), moderate (26.9% and 27.05% of total area), high (4.09% and 3.1% of total area), and very high (0.77% and 0.53% of total area). Zones of very high are found along major fault areas. Areas with high groundwater potential zones indicated favorable conditions for wells positioning at groundwater exploration. These results can be a basis for action related to groundwater resource development in the research area.

Assessment of groundwater potential and determination of influencing factors using remote sensing and machine learning algorithms: A study of Nainital district of Uttarakhand state, India

Exponential increase in population, rapid urbanization and industrialization have increased the demand of water globally. Groundwater is an important resource in hilly and mountainous regions during dry spells. Thus, identifying prospective groundwater zones is crucial for conserving and managing groundwater. The study makes an attempt to assess groundwater potential in the Nainital district of a hill state in India. Random forest, multi-layer perceptron, M5P and REPTree algorithms were used for preparing groundwater potential maps. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to examine the influence of site-specific parameters on groundwater potential. Each model was evaluated through performance successors and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for its effectiveness in groundwater potential assessment. Multi-layer perceptron was found best fit model for groundwater potential assessment. Largest area was found under high to very high groundwater potential zones in the plain area of the district (48 %), followed by very low to low in the hilly area (46 %) and moderate in the transition zone (7 %). Rainfall, lineament density and drainage density were found significant factors for influencing groundwater potential. The methodology adopted in this study has proved effective in groundwater potential assessment. The other geographical regions may find this methodology useful for groundwater management.

Delineation of groundwater potential zone using remote sensing and GIS-based AHP for sustainable groundwater management in Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia

Sustainable groundwater management is crucial for ensuring the long-term availability of water resources and supporting socio-economic activities. As water demands increase and hydrological systems become more complex, accurately identifying groundwater potential zones is essential for effective resource planning and utilization. However, the in-situ data availability is often very limited, particularly on a regional scale. To solve this problem, this study aimed to delineate groundwater potential zones in Aceh Besar Regency using remote sensing and a GIS-based AHP (analytical hierarchy process). Several factors were used to determine groundwater potential zones, including lithology, land use/land cover, slope, lineament density, drainage density, rainfall, and soil type. Each factor was weighted based on an extensive literature review and knowledge-driven decision-making techniques. The results indicated that 26.35% of the area was classified as having low groundwater potential, whereas 53.86% was classified as moderate. Areas that have high to very high groundwater potential cover 16.76% to 3.04% of the Aceh Besar territory. The high groundwater potential zones were mostly located in alluvial and clastic sediments lithology, gentle slopes, and had high annual rainfall. Meanwhile, areas with igneous and metamorphic lithology as well as steep slopes, had moderate to low groundwater potential. Validation was carried out by collecting the high-yield existing production wells and calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with relatively good accuracy (74.5%). This research has effectively described the spatial distribution of groundwater potential, contributing to sustainable groundwater management and enabling informed decision-making for sustainable groundwater practices.

Geophysical Approach for Groundwater Resource Assessment: A Case Study of Oda Community Akure, Southwestern Nigeria

The geophysical investigation for groundwater was carried out at Oda town, Akure south local government area of Ondo State. Fourteen (14) points were sounded using a Schlumberger array with AB/2 of 80 m and the resulting geoelectric parameters were used in the estimation of the aquifer layer parameters of the subsurface. The first layer resistivity value ranges from 29 to 164 Ωm and thickness ranges from 0.6 to 2.5 m. The second layer has a resistivity value ranging from 21-1361 Ωm with a thickness ranging from 1.5 m to 14.6 m. The third layer resistivity value is from 68 to 297 Ωm with thickness ranging from 4 m to 12.4 m. The fourth layer which is the deepest layer has a resistivity value ranging from 180 to 4364 Ωm with depth ranging from 4 m to 19.5 m. The parameters interpreted from the geoelectric data were used to generate the aquifer thickness and resistivity maps, with bedrock relief which were combined to produce the groundwater potential map of the area. These maps were used to characterise the study area into low to high groundwater potential zones. The southwestern and eastern parts were identified as productive groundwater potential zones. The result was validated by taking water column depth from eight existing hand-dug wells. A significant correlation was obtained between the groundwater potential model and the well water column. The surveyed area is generally suitable for hand-dug well aside from the north-eastern part where groundwater potential is low and water volume is observed.

Evaluation of Groundwater Potential Using Aquifer Characteristics in Urambo District, Tabora Region, Tanzania

In developing countries like Tanzania, groundwater studies are essential for water resource planning, development, and management. Limited hydrogeological information on groundwater occurrence, availability, and distribution in Urambo District is termed a key factor that hinders groundwater development. This research was aimed at the evaluation of groundwater potential zones in a granitic gneiss aquifer in Urambo District by integrating six indicators (transmissivity, specific capacity, static water level, yield, total dissolved solids, and geology) that were developed and applied in the study area. The indicators were further combined, and a groundwater potential index map (GWPIM) was prepared using relative weights derived from the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The results show that 67% and 27% of the study area are categorized as moderate and high groundwater potential zones, respectively. Groundwater is controlled by both Quaternary sediments (sands and gravels) and weathered to fractured granitic gneiss. Quaternary sediments host the major shallow aquifers (<35 m) with relatively high transmissivity, specific capacity, and yield (1.5 m2/day, 16.36 m2/day, and 108 m3/day, respectively). Granitic gneiss is not strongly fractured/weathered and forms an aquifer with a relatively low yield of about 10.08 m3/day. The findings were validated using three boreholes, and the results are consistent with the developed GWPIM. Such findings are of great importance in groundwater development as the techniques applied can be extended to other areas in Tanzania as well as other countries that experience similar geological environments.

An integrated groundwater resource management approach for sustainable development in a tropical river basin, southern India.

Evaluation of aquifer potential is essential, as thepotable water demand has increased globally over the last few decades. The present study delineated different zones of groundwater potential and groundwater quality of the Kallada River basin (KRB) in southern India, using geo-environmental and hydrogeochemical parameters, respectively. Geo-environmental variables considered include relative relief, land use/land cover, drainage density, slope angle, geomorphology, and geology, while hydrogeochemical parameters include pH, electrical conductivity (EC), Cl-, Fe3+, and Al3+ concentrations. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used for categorizing groundwater potential and quality zones. Nearly 50% of KRB is categorized as very high and high groundwater potential zones, occupying the western and midland regions. The central and west-central parts of KRB are characterized by excellent groundwater quality zones, while the eastern and western parts are characterized by good and poor groundwater quality zones, respectively. By integrating the groundwater potential and groundwater quality, sustainable groundwater management is observed to be necessary at about 54% of the basin, where site-specific groundwater management structures such as percolation ponds, injection wells, and roof water harvesting have been proposed using a rule-based approach. This integrated groundwater potential-groundwater quality approach helps policymakers to implement the most suitable management strategies with maximum performance.